Safety Tips on Beating the Summer Heat

The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 92 degrees or above Friday. With a heat wave like this, you need to find ways to stay safe and keep cool.

Obviously visiting the city's water park is a good idea. Maybe you could grab a refreshing beverage from or enjoy the wonderful AC inside the .

Chief Richard Racine shared some safety tips from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency on other ways to stay cool and safe during the extreme heat:

Drink Cool (not icy cold) Fluids

• Active people should drink 2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool, non-alcoholic fluids every hour. Drinking water is best.
• Do not take salt tablets without a physician’s advice.
• Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, because they can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illnesses.

Monitor or Limit Outdoor Activities

• Young children may become preoccupied with outdoor play and not realize they are overheated. Adults should mandate frequent breaks and bring children indoors to cool down and have cool drinks.
• Children or adolescents involved in team sports should be closely monitored for signs of heat stress. Consideration should be given to modifying practice or games during the hottest parts of the day.

 Know How to Treat Heat Exhaustion

• Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting.
• People experiencing these symptoms should be moved to a shady or air-conditioned area. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet clothes or towels.
• Have person sip on a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. If the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness, call 911 or the local emergency number.

 Know How to Treat Heat Stroke

• Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Call 911 immediately. Symptoms include: a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, red, hot and dry skin with no sweating, rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness, and gray skin color.
• Before medical help arrives, begin cooling the person by any means possible, such as spraying person with water from a garden hose or by placing the person in a cool tub of water.

NEVER Leave Children or Pets in Vehicles

• Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures quickly. Even if the windows are cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes.
• Children or animals left inside a vehicle is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death.
• When traveling with children (even routine drives), remember to do the following: (A) To remind yourself that a child is in the car, place bags, phones or other items you will take with you in the back seat. This will force you to turn around before exiting the car. (B) When leaving your vehicle, check the front and back seats to make sure no sleeping children (or pets) are left in the car.